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From left, Green Bay Packers assistant coaches Ray Wietecha, Dave Hanner and Tom McCormick, personnel director Pat Peppler and assistant coaches Jerry Burns, Phil Bengtson and Bob Schnelker work in the draft room at Lambeau Field for the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers assistant coaches Ray Wietecha, Dave Hanner and Tom McCormick, personnel director Pat Peppler and assistant coaches Jerry Burns, Phil Bengtson and Bob Schnelker work in the draft room at Lambeau Field for the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers offensive line coach Ray Wietecha talks on the phone in the draft room at Lambeau Field for the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers personnel director Pat Peppler looks over a blackboard with dozens of prospects' names in the draft room at Lambeau Field during the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers assistant coaches Dave Hanner, Jerry Burns, Phil Bengtson and Bob Schnelker work in the draft room at Lambeau Field for the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers assistant coaches Dave Hanner, Jerry Burns, Phil Bengtson, Bob Schnelker and Tom McCormick work in the draft room at Lambeau Field for the first combined NFL-AFL draft on March 14, 1967. It was the first time the Packers had been able to work from Green Bay during the draft. Picks were phoned to New York. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers coach Phil Bengtson, left, oversees the team's draft in the draft room in late January 1970. One of the names on the board in the 4.1 group at center is that of USC quarterback Mike Holmgren. He became the Packers coach in 1992. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers receivers coach Bob Schnelker, personnel director Pat Peppler and coach Dan Devine work in the draft room at Lambeau Field on Jan. 28, 1971. The man at right is unidentified. Devine had been named coach two weeks earlier. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers receivers coach Bob Schnelker, personnel director Pat Peppler and coach Dan Devine work in the draft room at Lambeau Field on Jan. 28, 1971. The man at right is unidentified. Devine had been named coach two weeks earlier. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers coach Bart Starr looks over scouting reports in the team's draft room at Lambeau Field before the NFL draft in January 1975. He had just been named coach. File/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

From left, Green Bay Packers scouts Tom Tipps and John "Red" Cochran and personnel director Dick Corrick look over the draft board in the draft room at Lambeau Field on April 29, 1980, the first day of that year's draft. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers scouts Tom Tipps and John "Red" Cochran and personnel director Dick Corrick look over the draft board in the draft room at Lambeau Field on April 29, 1980, the first day of that year's draft. Press-Gazette Media archives

From left, Green Bay Packers scouts Tom Tipps and John "Red" Cochran and personnel director Dick Corrick talk in front of the draft board in the draft room at Lambeau Field on April 29, 1980, the first day of that year's draft. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers scouts Pete Kettela, left, and Tom Tipps take a break while working in the draft room at Lambeau Field on April 29, 1980, the first day of that year's draft. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers scouts Pete Kettela, left, and Tom Tipps take a break while working in the draft room at Lambeau Field on April 29, 1980, the first day of that year's draft. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers personnel director Dick Corrick, left, and coach Bart Starr pose for a photo in the draft room at Lambeau Field a few days before the NFL draft in April 1982. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers coaches and scouts gather in the screening room at Lambeau Field in April 1984, shortly before that year's draft. At left are coach Forrest Gregg and personnel director Dick Corrick. File/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Packers coach Mike Sherman, center, ponders his next pick during the second round of the NFL draft on April 26, 2003. Flanking him in the draft room at Lambeau Field are vice president of football operations, Mark Hatley, left, and director of college scouting, John Dorsey, right. Press-Gazette Media archives

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson, right, director of college scouting John Dorsey, center, and coach Mike Sherman work in the Packers' draft room during the third round of the NFL draft on April 23, 2005, at Lambeau Field. File/AP

From left, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, team president Mark Murphy and general manager Ted Thompson talk inside the draft room during the NFL draft at Lambeau Field on April 22, 2010. File/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

From left, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson shares a laugh with team president and CEO Mark Murphy and coach Mike McCarthy in the draft room at Lambeau Field in April 2013. File/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

From left, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson, president Mark Murphy, head coach Mike McCarthy and director of player personnel Eliot Wolf work inside the war room during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on Thursday, April 30, 2015. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media
Evan Siegle/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

From left, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson, president Mark Murphy and head coach Mike McCarthy visit with each other inside the war room during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on Thursday, April 30, 2015. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media
Evan Siegle/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

In middle, Green Bay Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf talks on the phone inside the war room during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on Thursday, April 30, 2015. Also shown is Brian Gutekunst, director of college scouting. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media Evan Siegle/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Hutch Ruggles of Eau Claire, right, makes a point to Quincy Devine of Withee on Thursday at 1919 Kitchen & Tap while waiting for the Green Bay Packers to draft.(Photo: Richard Ryman/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

GREEN BAY – It turned ugly quickly at 1919 Kitchen & Tap after the Green Bay Packers traded the 14th pick for the 27th in the 2018 NFL draft.

It turned better a short time later Thursday when the Packers traded back up into the 18th pick, selected cornerback Jaire Alexander of Louisville and held two first-round picks in 2019.

As they began to see a bigger picture, Packers fans gathered in places like 1919 Kitchen & Tap and at home were less upset than when they thought new GM Brian Gutekunst pulled what struck some as a classic Ted Thompson move. Gutekunst succeeded Thompson as general manager in January.

"I was a little freaked when they traded down to 27th. I wondered if there were too many cocktails being consumed in the war room," emailed Nancy Selinsky of Green Bay, who watched the draft from home. "Then they traded up to 18th, and ended up with a much-needed speedy corner. You have to love Draft Day!"

The Packers started with the 14th pick and fans were counting on them choosing a player like Derwin James, a defensive back from Florida State, or linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, of Virginia Tech. In the end, both were drafted later than 14th.

They were among the preferred choices of a group of guys who grew up together in Owen and had brought their annual traveling draft party to Lambeau Field. It was their 19th draft as a group.

"We need a dynamic player, a guy who can really change the game," said Jim Henaman of Sun Prairie before the Packers made their moves.

When it was announced on the many TVs in the bar that the Packers traded down to the 27th pick, which was pretty much where they drafted for many years, boos were general and loud. The fact that they got New Orleans' first pick in 2019 didn't brighten the mood.

"Next year we'll be good," said Chad Schillinger of Prior Lake, Minn., one of the Owen group, sounding disgusted.

As might be expected from friends who've known each other for decades, they argued freely and fiercely about the Packers' moves over the years. Wade Hatlestad thought last year's first pick, cornerback Kevin King, was "terrible."

"He'll be a great pick," Henaman countered.

But positions were reversed when the Packers picked Alexander. Henaman was unconvinced even as his friends sang Alexander's praises.

That divide pretty much reflected Packers nation as the reviews came in Thursday.

"I loved the value of getting an additional first-round pick next year and still landing a premier corner," emailed Matthew Faulkner of Milford, Del. "Alexander plays with a swagger that I think the secondary needs. He can step in from Day One and make an immediate impact. Pairing him and King together bodes well for the future in Green Bay."

Chris Ebli of Green Bay, who watched the draft at Lenny's Tap in Green Bay sided with Henaman.

"A 5-10 defensive back. Can’t say I’m overly excited about us spending yet another first pick on defensive backfield," he emailed. "I expected a different direction this year. I guess if we draft there each year, and it continues to be underwhelming results year after year, maybe the issue is not the player. We’ll see this year with new defensive coordinator.

"Still plenty of picks left to get Aaron (Rodgers) some blocking and additional targets."

Ultimately, it's hard to keep down the optimism of the average Packers fan.

"(Gutekunst's) first decision as GM didn’t disappoint and is one that could define his legacy in Packers lore," emailed Craig Stillman of Green Bay. "Like most draft picks you tend to focus on the positive, so I’m a fan of Alexander, but honestly haven’t seen enough of him to give a fair assessment. I think the most important thing is to trust the professionals and hopefully we can look back on this draft in two to three years and label it a success."

The draft continues Friday with rounds two and three. Rounds four through seven are conducted Saturday.